Salem State/Framingham State Box Score

Worcester State/Fitchburg State Box Score

Courtesy of Worcester State Sports Information

Worcester State 3, Fitchburg State 2

Third-seeded Worcester State and fifth-seeded Framingham State advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2014 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Tournament after winning their respective first round games in extra innings Thursday night.

In the first round game hosted by Worcester State, sophomore Hayley Terry (Rehoboth, MA) knocked in freshman Courtney Salisbury (Cranston, RI) for the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to help propel third-seeded Worcester State to a 3-2 victory over sixth-seeded Fitchburg State at Rockwood Park.

The Lancers (12-20) move on to the double-elimination quarterfinals to take on second-seeded MCLA tomorrow at 3 PM. The Falcons see their season come to a close at 14-17.

Salisbury smashed a triple to right center in the bottom of the ninth to start off the frame before Terry drover her in with a single through the left side to end the contest and help WSU move on to the next round of the league playoffs.

Fitchburg State originally knotted things up 2-2 in the top of the sixth on an RBI ground out by junior pinch-hitter Colleen Flaherty (Stoughton, MA), who drove in freshman pinch-runner Kelsey LeBlanc (Attleboro, MA). First-year Courtney Borysewicsz (Quaker Hill, CT) originally started off the frame with a lead-off double to help spark the late rally for the Falcons.

Both squads had their chances in extra innings to put their team on top, but neither could capitalize.

Borysewicsz jacked another lead-off two-bagger, but she was caught trying to advance to third after a ground-out in the top of the eighth.

Freshman Kayla Humphrey (Wallingford, CT) singled in the bottom of the same stanza and moved to third on a double by classmate Mackenzie Crumley (Fall River, MA) with no one out, but they were both stranded at the plate when Falcon senior Kerry Alcott (Groton, MA) set down the next three batters to end the threat.

Fitchburg State originally staked the early 1-0 advantage on a run producing at bat by freshman Jessalynne Brown (Malden, MA) who plated senior Ashley Forgues (Fitchburg, MA) in the top of the first.

The hosts responded with a pair of scores in the bottom of the third and took over the 2-1 edge.

Salisbury stretched out a three-base knock to bring in sophomore Sara Pelletier (Leominster, MA) to tie up the score. Salisbury then crossed the plate on the go-ahead tally on a dropped play at the plate by the catcher from the pitcher on a fielder's choice.

Sophomore Meghan Rich (Chelmsford, MA) evened out her record to 7-7 in the complete-game effort for the Lancers. She fanned two, walked three and allowed two earned runs while scattering eight hits.

Courtesy of Salem State Sports Information

Framingham State 11, Salem State 4

In the other extra inning first round thriller, the fifth seeded Rams of Framingham State knocked off the fourth seeded Salem State Vikings, 11-4 in extra-innings. Alex Feri (Winthrop, Mass.) pitched all eight innings to help Framingham State (19-18) advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face top seed Bridgewater State tomorrow at 4:00 PM. Salem State ends their season with a record of 17-21-1.

In a game played in dense fog, Salem State opened the scoring in the bottom of the second. Bobbie Dee Regan (Lynn, Mass.) doubled, and following a walk to Lauren DiCredico (Tewksbury, Mass.), Cara Crowley (Lynn, Mass.) doubled into right center field to plate two to give Salem State a 2-0 lead.

Vikings' starter Francesca Perreault (Everett, Mass.) was effective early, holding the Rams without a hit until the fourth inning, when Framingham State used three straight singles to cut the deficit to 2-1. Alyssa Begin (Salem, Mass.) scored on an RBI single by Helen Falzone (Ashland, Mass.). However, poor base running by the Rams on the hit, netted a double play that ended the inning.

Perrault held Framingham State in check until the seventh, when the Rams scored three times to grab a 3-2 lead. Following a walk and single, Casey Fanning (East Boston, Mass.) singled to load the bases. Marissa Flynn (Marlborough, Mass.) provided a game-tying single to knock Perreault from the game. DiCredico came on to pitch, but Tiffanie Marsh (Tewksbury, Mass.) produced the go-ahead run with a base hit.

Salem State continued to fight, and rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the inning. Michelle Flower (Rading, Mass.) and Crowley hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. With two outs, Kristin McKenzie (Arlington, Mass.) came through in the clutch, scoring Flower with a base-hit to force extra innings.

The Rams took control of the game in the eighth, scoring eight runs on six hits to build an 11-3 lead. Falzone tripled to begin the inning. A hit batter and single by Kourtney Kacian (Gardner, Mass.) plated the first run. The Rams then loaded the base, and Fanning cleared them with a double that put Framingham State up 7-3. An error scored another run, before Falzone ripped a three-run home run to put the game out of reach.

Crowley added an RBI single in the eighth to make the final 11-4. Ferri (8-4) pitched a complete game, allowing four runs on 12 hits with six strikeouts. Perreault yielded just a run on seven hits with four strikeouts for Salem State. DiCredico (7-10) took the loss, going 2.2 innings, allowing 10 runs on eight hits with three strikeouts.

Falzone went 3-for-4 for the Rams, including a triple, and home run with four runs batted in. Begin also added three hits with two runs scored. Crowley finished 2-for-5 with three RBI for the Vikings.